Automatic transmission



DCC. 31, 1929. l K E, LYMAN 1,741,865

AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION Originl Filed Sept. 12, 1928 5 Shets- Sheet 1 l ATTORNEY Dec. 3l, 1929. K. E. LYMAN 1,741,865

AUTQMATiC TRANSMISSION Original Filed Sept. 12, 1928 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 9/ f INVENTOR.

4 9/ y BY TORNEY Dec. 3l, 1929. vK E LYMAN 1,741,865

AUTOMATIC TRANSMISS ION l original Filed sepi. 12, 1928 s sheets-sheet s Patented idee, dit,

nniinn'rn tratan', on nocnnonn, rnnrnors, aantonen, no annniaarroenena intenten connaitre on nocnnonn, retirions, a convenanten' o i Y application nice. tepteniter in, man, Serial its. Sitiat'iti., ttenetved November ttt, wird.,

iiiie present invention relates in generati. to poner transmittingn mechanisms and bas parn ticniar reference to an improved automatic transmission which is especially adaptable tor use in connection with motor driven veliaicies.

v iin my co-pending appiication, iiied Augst 9,1928, Serial No. 298,453, i have disclosed an automatic transmission which has tor its primary object tbe provision oit an automatic control, oit the centrifugal inesponsivev type, tor planetary change speed mechanisms and vvitii sucia a type oi control, provided in a co-operative reiationsiiip oi parte whereby tbe eitective inherent inertia forces resuiting;

trein the operation oit snch typey oft controi are eiiminated, for alii `practicai purposes, vvitbout sacriiicing the etectiveness ot 'the inherent centriitngai forces.

Tile present invention has tor one oi its objects the provision oi the same type. oi

controi vvitii the added ifeatnre oi; an 1m portant change in the means for reversing the mechanism..

'XW/"indie tbe foregoing brieniy captains tbe nature oit the present improvements other objects and advantages not herein speciticaiiy referred to Witt be readiiy appreciated upon a init comprehension oit the novei ieatnres presented in tbe construction, arrangement and manner oi operation ot4 the transmission..

iin order that tbe invention may be readiiy understood, an embodiment oi tine saine is set 'torth in tbe accompanying drawings, and

` in tbe ioiiowingr detaiied description.,

it is understood that tiiose sitiiied inthe art may maire various cha-neges in tiie construction and arrangement oi tbe parts vvitiiout departing troni tbe spirit-and scope oi tbe 4invention as defined in' the subioined claims, and i tbereiore do not vfisii to be restricted to tbe precise construction contained herein.

in tbe drawings:

' Fig. i is a iongitudinai section et mechanism constructed in accordance vvitti tbe preferred embodiment ot my invention. Fig. 2 is a vievv in tection taitl n on tite tine 2-'2, iia i,

A part ot the over-rnnningg5 cintcii,

which having?, a radiai *Harige it itig. 3 is tbe vievv in vsection teiten on ttie tine u-, Fig. y

Fig, It is a detailed vievv in iront eievation ont' one part oit the over-rnnning ciutcii.

Fig. 5 is a similar vievv oif the companion Fig. t5 is a vieiv in iront eievation oit tbe tieiiibie connection between tbe driving siiait and the change speed mechanism oit the transu mission.

1F ig, 7 is a detailed vievv iront eievation ci the dog clutch actuatingn iever, and

Fig.. 8 is a detaiied bottornpian vievuv' oi a part oit vtbe braking mechanism e iteterring non to the drawings in detaii, i@ represents the iionsingI vviiicii is preierabiy made in tvvo parts joined as at it by means et boit-s or tbe iike i@ ot vviiicii pass through the confronting companion tianges on each ot the two parts oi tile housing.. The drive siiaitt i3 enters tbe housing i0 through an openirne,P it in one side tiiereoi' and is provided with step diameters i5 and in, tbe sinaiiei one oi 'vvtiicb providing a bearing,1 surface in the opening it and iarger one oitu "L ,'ittie onening tt may be ciosed by a paciring i@ vviiicii' is heid in piace by a packing; ring i9, batted or otbervviser secured as at 2@ to tbe outside ot the housing".

The driven sbait't 2i enters tiie housingx l@ ttir'ougii an openingn in time opposite side, and entends tiirougb tbe'iiousing vvitii a reduced diameter 22 on the end thereoia received Witbin an arriai bore in tbeend oit tine drivinig,p shaft i3. i suitable reiter bearing 23 is rorovided ivitbin this airiai bore tor supporting. the reduced diameter 22 ot tbe driven siiait. Tile opposite end oit the driven stia-tt is supported in tbe opening oit tiie housing; by a bail bearing 2t and a connect-ing plate 25 is spiined on ttiev shaft v'tier connecting enstomary universal joint (not sinovvnjo dournaied on the driven strait di is a retativeiy e sleeve @tithe torvvard end ot vviiicii is :aedty connectedl to 4tbe driving sbatt i3 ttiroueii means oit a iienibie connection This tieaibie connection is empioyed "tor eliminating? driving'impnises betiveen tbe driving sbaitt and the speed ebanegii ineennio Aao

` planetary system. This sun gear 38 is inanism. It preferably comprises a ring member 28 which is Splined as at 29 on the sleeve so that they bear against the projections 30.`

The mechanism 'of this flexible connection is suitably confined behind a ring plate, which is bolted or otherwise secured as at 36 to the radial flange 17 on the largest diameter 16 of the driving shaft.

Splined as at 37 on the opposite end of the sleeve 26 is a sun gear 38 of the primary constant driving relation at all times with the driving shaft 13 through means of its Splined connection with the sleeve 26 and the Splined connection as at 29 between the sleeve 26 and the fiexible connection 27 of the driving shaft 13.

The sun gear forms a part of a planetary gear train of which the planet gears 39'form another' part. These planet gears 39 are in constant mesh with the sun gear 38 and also in constant mesh with the ring gear 40 which is Splined as at 41 on the driven shaft 21.

Planet shafts 42 are provided for the planet x gears 39 and on which the gears are journaled. One end of these planet shafts 42 are Splined as at 43 in the rear part 44 of a two part planet carrier the 'same having a sleeve 45 which is ,journaled on the driven shaft. The opposite end of the shafts are' Splined as at 46 in the part 47 of thevcarrier which is also provided with a sleeve 48 j ournaled on the driven shaft. The part 47 of the carrier is made with a ring gear 49 which is in constant mesh with the planet gears 50 in the-second planetary-gear train or system. lThe part 47 .of the carrier thus becomes a combined planet carrier and ring gear connectingthe two planetary gear trains or systems. It is also constructed with a brake surface 51 on its outer circumference so that its rotation may be arrested, as will be hereinafter more specifically shown.

The secondary planet gears 50 are in constant mesh with the secondary sun gear 5 2 and the planet shafts 53 for the ears 50 and on which the gears are journale are Splined as at 54 and 55 in the two parts 56 and 57 of a secondary planet carrier. These parts 56 and 57 of the secondary planet carrier are each provided with sleeves 58 and 59 respectively which are journaled relatively to the driven shaft 21. y

The primary and secondary sun ears 38 and 52 respectively are of different iaineter and the planet gears 39 and 50 in the two are journaled as at 63 and 64 in the two parts- 56 and 57 `of the secondary` planet carrier.

The planet gears 6 1 instead of being journaled on'the shaft 62 as are the gears 50 with respect to the shafts 53, are splined as at 64. In other words, while the shafts 53 are Splined to the carrier, the shafts 62 are journaled in the carrier and where the gears 50 are journaled on the shaft 53 the gears 6l are Splined on theshaft 62.

Splined as `at 65 and 66 on the ends of the shafts`62 are centrifugal weights 67 and 68. The weights are thus fixed to planetate with the shafts 62. The sun gears 52 and 61 are connected through the medium of a one way clutch 69 so that the sun gear 6() can run' ahead of the stun gear 52. This one way clutch is best illustrated in Figs. 4 and 5 and it might be mentioned here in this res ct7 that the supplemental sun gear 60 is o larger diameter than the secondary sun gear 52. The supplemental planet gear 61 which meshes only with the supplemental sun gear 60 are of smaller diameter than the secondary sun gears 50. Referring again to the details of the one way clutch mechanism and particularly to Figs. 4 and 5 the supplemental sun gear 60 is made with a hollow internal areay for accommodating a ring-like spider 70. This ring-like spider is made with a series of annular spaced lugs 71 which project from the side of the same and are accommodated in slots or recesses 72 provided in the side of vthe secondary ring gear 52. Formed as an integral part of the spider-like ring are a series of annular spaced projections 73 providing spaces 74 in which are mounted wedging rollers 7 5. The tangential surfaces 76 at the bottom ofthe recess or spaces 74 and the curvature providedl by the inner circumference of the gear reduce wedging spaces whereby the rollers 75 when urged forwardly by spring pressed plungers 77 will lock the spider-like ring 70 to the gear.' Rotation of` the gear or spider-like ring in the opposite direction will release the rollers permitting" relative rotation between these parts. Since the secondary .sun gear 52 is y tation relative the ring-like spider 70 by means of the lugs 71 in the recess 72 the two sun gears are thus connected lwith freedom of relative rotation in one direction but are locked .against relative rotation in opposite direction.

Thel centrifugal responsive devices such as fixed against ro-v arf-trees the weights 67 and 68 are directly associated with the supplemental system and the one way clutch mechanism is intended to co-oper ate witlrthe assembly in such a manner 'las to eliminate for' all practical 'purposes the effectiveness of the inherent inertia forces ofthe centrifugal devices so that only the centrifun gal or retarding forces developed as a result lover-running clutch plenty of time to function which, of course, increases the etliciency of the automatic control. y

rllhe above described construction and the advantages attributed to the same are all fully disclosed in my (zo-pending application, Serial No. 298,458, filed August 9, y1928, and hereinbefore mentioned. 'lhe improvements in the present construction have to do primarily with a reversed drive. lnmy copending application above identified, both the primary and secondary sun gears are perf manently lined relatively to the driving shaft.

lln this case, however, while both theprimary and secondary sun gears are connected in driving relation with the driving shaft for forward speeds, ll have provided means whereby the secondary sun gear may be re leased from driving,r relation with the driv ing shaft when the drive is reversed. l pref#` erably accomplished this purpose by using two sleeves mstead of one as in my co-pendme; case above identilied, and in the present case the primary sun-gear is splined on the sleeve 26 .and the secondary sun gearl is splined to the other sleeve. The sleeve 'l' 8 is therefore provided for thev secondary sun near 52 and the sun gear is splined thereto.

This sleeve is sherrter than the sleeve 28 for the primary sun gear and terminates fonv wardly 'just in advance of the sleeve 59 on the part il? of the secondary planet carrier. rllhe sleeve L78 in this respect isyournaled with free dem of rotation upon the sleeve 28 and on its l ad is eletchingl ring 'lll which is adapten he engaged by an axially slidable cltu'gehu 88 which is mounted free 1e nlined area of tbe sleeve 28, t

retatii i. endently drive., il

would be manually moved to engage the clutch ring 79 which would connect the secondary sun gear 52 with the driving shaft 13, thereforeat all forward speeds, a double sun gear drive is effected. v'llo ,go into reverse, l have provided a manually operable means whereby the supplemental sun gear 52 will first be disconnected then the rotation of the combined ring,l gear and planet carrier 47 will be arrested. llt is important that the mechanism operate in this sequence. rl`his manually operable reversing mechanism preferably comprises a shifting shaft 8l which is controlled by means of an arm 82 lined at one end on av rotatable shaft 83 with its opposite end confined within .a slot or like 84 in the shaft 8l. 'lhe shaft 83 may be rotated by a suitable lever arrangement conveniently accessible to the 4driver of the vehicle. Shaft 8l is slidably mounted in the housing 10 by means of a boss 85 on one side of the housing and a longer boss 86 on the opposite side. 1F or a short portion of its length the shaft 8l is threaded as at 8'? and extends through a sleeve 88, lock nuts 89 beingr employed for holding the sleeve 88 in a longitudinally adjusted position on the shaft.. Depending rom the sleeve 88 is a bloek-like integral part 0 having1 a wedge shaped camming slot 91 in which the attaching ears 92 on the brake band 93 are seated. Brake band 93 encircles the .braking surface on the outer circumference of the combined ring gear and planet carrier t9. Ylhe brake band is anchored on the diametrically opposite side of the braking vsurface hy means of an adjusting bolt 9d band away from the friction' surface with,

a clearance sucient to prevent undue. wear.

Slidably mounted on the shaft 8l is a sleeve 96 which has a dependimgI lever arm 87, the end of which terminates in a fork 98 which is seated ina circumferential groove 99 in the clogging clutch 80, @oiled around the shaft 8l between the two sleeves 88 and `88 is a compression spring lOO. lhe sleeve 96 is provided with a slot lOl and a pin l02v on the shalt is seated in this slot'.v llhen the shaft 8l is shifted to the right as viewed from lilig. l, the pin '.l82 will bodily move the dedog 80 to engage the clutch ring; 78, thus connecting; the sun 52 in drivingn relation with the driving;l shaft.. Further movement of theshaft ,in e direction 'will ca the camminpgfslot' lll release the bralre band, Vl Jhen in a forward le 'togo into d to the le pending lever arm 8'? causingz the chttchime;`

l l verse, toe e vi wed from .r he

said systems, means bined ring gear and planet carrier. VV-hen the mechanism has been shifted into reverse, there will be no motion imparted to the secondary system or the supplemental system, as the sun gear 52 is disengaged and thecombined ring gear and planet carrier 49 is stationary.v

Having thus described and shown an embodiment of my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

"1. In an automatic transmission, driving and driven shafts, planetary change speed' mechanism for connecting saidrshafts in different speed ratios, comprising primary and secondary gear systems each having a sun gear, means for connecting said sun gears with the driving shaft, means for reversing the drive in said mechanism, means for disconnectingone of said sun gears from the driving shaft when the drive in the mechanism is reversed, and means for automatically changing the driving atio in said transmission. l

2. 'In an yautomatic transmission, driving and driven shafts, planetary change speed mechanism for connecting said shafts indifferent speed ratios, comprising primary and secondary gear systems each having sim gear, a fixed connection between the sun gear in the primary system and the driving shaft, a releasable clutching connection between the sun gear in the secondary system andthe driv ing shaft, and means for automatically chan p; ing the driving ratio in said transmission.

3. In transmission, driving and driven shafts, planetary change speed mechanism for connecting said shafts in different speed ratios, comynfisingT primary and secondary gear systems each having a sun gear, means for antoimnically changing the speed ratio in said mechanism, means 'for connecting` both of said sun with the driving l means for reversing the drive in said-mechanism, releasahle clutch for disconnecting the s un gear in the vondary system from the Zini driving' shaft when the drive in said nicchanism is reversed.

Il In a transmission, driving and driven shafts, planotary speed changing mechanism for connectii'lp; said shafts in diilerent speed ratios, comprising primary and secondary gear systems, each having a sun lgear, a com-- bined ring gear planet carrier connecting for-connecting both of i the driving shaft, means ging the ratio in said or reversinLg the drive iprising a clutch for r in the secondary .fion 'with "tl e driv-l said sun for automi mechaiai for connectingl said shafts in different speed ratios, comprising primary and secondary gear systems, each having a sun gear, a combined ring gear and planet carrier connecting said systems, means for connecting both Of said sun gears With the driving shaft, means for automatically changing the ratio in said mechanism and means for reversing the drive in said mechanism, comprising a clutch for disconnecting the sun gear in the secondary system from driving relation with the driving shaft and means for holding lthe combined ring gear and planet carrier against rotation',l said sun gear disconnecting means and said holding means for the combined ring` gear and planet carrier being manually operable as a unit.

G. ln a transmission, driving and driven shafts, planetary speed changing mechanism for connecting said shafts in dillerent speed ratios, comprising primary and secondary gear systems, each having` a sun gear, a combined ring gear and planet carrier connecting said systems, means for connecting both of said sun gears With the driving shaft, means for changing the ratio in said mechanism and means for reversing the drive in' said mechanism, comprising a clutch for disconnecting: the sun gear in the secondary system from driving relation with the driving shaft and means for holding the combined ring and planet carrier against rotation.

t? in a transmission, driving and driven shafts, planetary speed changing mechanism for connecting said shafts in different speed fos, com7 1"isirj primary and secondary stein-s, c rh havingl a sun gear, a com- Y 'ng and planet carrier connect- "j," said svsteins, means for connecting both said san eears with the driving shaft,

sive means for automatically ratio in said mechanism and sing the drive in said mechaci .1in means fc; ci

` icing a clutch for disconnecting san gear in the secondary sys-tei from 'i f 7 n with the driving shart and ing the combined ring gear er against rotation, said sun means and said holding and planet disconnecting means for the combined ring` carrier being manually operable a u Q emission, driving and driven shafts, speed changing mechanism for connecting said shafts in different speed ratios, comprisingl primary and secondary planetary gear systems of variable gear ratios, a sun for each of said systems, means for automatically changing the speed ratio in Said mechanism, means for connecting said sun; gears 7with the driving shaft, means for rethe drive in said mechanism` releasabie clutching means for disconnecting the "ear in the secondary system from the ng shaft when the mechaiiism is re- 9. A planetary speed changin mechanism comprising in combination, driven shafts, inner and outer. sleeves jour- `naled With freedom of rotation relatively of the 'driven shaft, means for connecting one of said sleeves in fixed driving relation to the driving shaft, a manually operable clutch for connecting the other of said sleeves to the driving shaft, sun gears xedto rotate with said sleeves, planet gears meshing with 'said sun gears, ring gears meshing with said planet gears, planet carriers for said planet gears, meansconnecting one of said ring gears with one of said planet carriers, and means for connecting the other of said ring gears Withflthefdriven shaft: Y

10. A planetary speed changing mechanirnsv comprising in combination, driving and driven shafts, inner and outer sleeves journaled with freedom of rotation relatively of the driven shaft, means for connecting one of said sleeves rin fixed driving relation to the driving shaft, a manually operable clutch for connecting the otherof said sleeves to the driving'shaft, sun gears aed'to ro ytate with sai-d sleeves, planet gears mesh ing with said sun gears, ring gears meshing with said planet gears, planet carriers for said vplanet gears, means connecting one of said ring gears with one of said planet carriers, means for connecting the other ef said ring gears with the driven shaft, andmeans for automatically changing the speedl ratio in said mechanism,

ll. .l planetary' speed changing mechanism comprising in combination, driving and driven shafts, inner and outer sleeves journaled with; freedom. of rotation rela tively of the 'driven shaft, means lor connect ing one said sleeves in lined driving relation to the driving shaft, a manually op erable clutch for connecting the other ci: slald sleeves to the driving shafnsun gears fined to rotate with said sleeves, piane' meshing s. .said sun gears, ring gea inesl l said W et gears, planet c lo; plane nears, means conn Y ing on. aid rim` is vfith one of said m nf,

Ts 'with the driven aft, and anim atically changing the speed ratio in said mechanism comprising supplen Jntal gear tratan a supplemental sun.

in aid gear train a one niet nectino l supple l c compi i sun gear said iving and or connecting the and connected iii driving relation with the driving shaft, planet gears in said train meshing with said sun gear, a ring gear in mesh with said planet gears, means for connecting said ring gear with the driven shaft, planet shafts for said planet gears, a combined rino` gear and planet carrier in which said planet shafts are mounted, secondary planet gears meshing with Isaid combined ring, gear `and planet carrier, asecondary sun gear meshing with said secondary planetgears, a sleeved mounting for said secondary sun gear journaled oni said sleeved mounting for the`\sun gear in the primary gear train, means for connectingsaid sleeved mounting for the secondary sun gear with the driving shaft, and means for reversing the mechanism compris# ing a manually operable clutch for disconnectu ing the secondary sun gearfroin the driving shaft and arresting means for arresting the rotation of the combined ring gear and planet carrier. v

. 13. lln transmission, driving and driven shafts,speed changing mechanism for connecting said shafts in' diderent speed ratios, comprising a primary planetary gear train, a sun gear in said train, a sleeved mounting for said sun gear journaled on the driven shaft and connected in driving relation with the driving shaft, planet gears in said train meshn ying with. said sun gear, a ring gear in mesh With said planet gears, means for connecting said ring gear with the driven shaft, planet shafts for said planet gears, a combined ring gear and planet carrier in which said planet naled on said sleeved moantinay 'lor in the primary gear train, inea i'aecting said sleeved mounting n with the driving sli t A, ai ly changing" the si eed ra mechanism, Acompr'lsii f a c controlled suppl onmeeting said si 'd secondary sin bii i tion set lll and. ir which means are pro sing the mechanism ce iisconnectinfr the sec..

p., ,an :omer l1 lili' lll@ lill'i means for connecting said sun gear with the driving shaft, a secondary sun gear in the secondary train, means for connecting Said secondary sun gear with the driving shaft and means for reversing the drive, comprising a manually operable clu'teh for` diseonnectinv the secondary sun gear from the driving sha t and means operable as a unit with said clutch operating means for arresting the rotation of said combined ring gear and planet carrier.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name.' KENNETH E. LYMAN. 

